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RompHim: Why the Latest Style Trend Matters, and Why it Doesn’t

The RompHim – essentially a romper (a piece of clothing traditionally found in the women’s section) that men would wear.

The RompHim was buzzing this past week on Twitter. The hashtag #romphim was a field day for memes. However, guys seem to have mixed feelings about it. Some guys say they definitely won’t be wearing it if it actually becomes a thing. Others say they like the idea of guys having more options to wear. The RompHim helps deconstruct the idea of “masculine” clothing, according to some users. Others say the RompHim is unnecessary; that rompers should be gender neutral in the first place.

Let’s observe the idea that clothing is gendered. There’s sections for women and sections for men. But why? At the end of the day, clothing is clothing. Clothes can be used for self expression. When it comes down to it, clothes are simply a way to keep you warm and protected from germs/things that shouldn’t get on your skin. In this case, the RompHim shouldn’t be a big deal.

But, for some it is. Again, clothing is gendered. Society has followed this idea that guys and gals need separate sections of clothing for decades. This helps us perform gender; this reinforces the idea of what a man or woman looks like. Men’s clothing and male-marketed products reinforce the image and role of being a man, and being masculine.

“Who would really wear this though?”

Anyone that wants to. Rompers are actually pretty comfortable. The RompHim isn’t the first time traditionally female-marketed clothing was extended to, or worn by men. Many male celebrities have rocked dresses, skirts, crop tops, and other articles of clothing – showing that they are carefree men, and their masculinity is not diminished by anything they wear. Jaden Smith is a perfect example. He’s been photographed wearing skirts and crop tops several times. He’s not the only one either. Kid Cudi can be seen below performing in a crop top, while Young Thug wore a dress on his “Jeffery” album cover.

Jaden Smith (right), featured in Teen Vogue, rocking a crop top.Jaden Smith, photographed wearing skirts in a Vogue photoshoot.Kid Cudi wearing a crop top at Coachella in 2014.Young Thug wearing a dress on the cover of his “Jeffery” album that came out in 2016.

Perhaps problems with the RompHim stem from the perception that others may have of the men who wear them. Guys might be worried that they’ll be seen in a negative light, or that they’ll be seen as less of a man for wearing it. Here’s what I have to say: whatever you wear, wear it because you feel like wearing it. Period. Wear what you feel comfortable wearing. Wear clothes you look good in, and clothes you just like. No matter what you wear, wear it with confidence. When you have confidence, you’ll always look smooth in anything you throw on.

To close off this food-for-thought, here are some funny tweets that have come out of this whole RompHim idea:

"GO GET HER BRUH ! SHE FEELING THAT FLORAL LOOK ON YA ROMPER, LOOKING MAD POETIC DAWG. YOU A FLOWER CHILD, BEAUTIFUL CHILD YOU IN THE ZONE!" pic.twitter.com/3lHIzMb7tg